MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) – A Manitowoc man charged with felony murder had his plea deal rejected by a judge on Thursday.
According to court records, 54-year-old Timothy S. Hauschultz appeared in court with his attorney for a plea hearing. Hauschultz was set to plead guilty to two counts of party to a crime—child abuse, intentionally causing harm.
Under the proposed deal, several charges, including felony murder, contributing to delinquency resulting in death, contributing to delinquency (felony), and additional child abuse and battery charges, would have been dismissed but read into the record.
However, the victim’s family opposed the plea agreement, and the judge ultimately ruled that the deal was not in the public’s best interest. Despite attempts by the defense to negotiate a compromise, the plea deal was rejected, and the case will now proceed to a jury trial, set to begin on Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m.
The charges stem from the 2018 death of 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz. According to police reports, Ethan was forced to carry a heavy log as punishment. While carrying it, he was allegedly kicked, hit, and knocked to the ground by Timothy’s then-15-year-old son, Damian Hauschultz. Damian reportedly rolled the log on top of Ethan and buried him in the snow, leading to the boy’s death.
In 2021, Damian was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision for his role in Ethan’s death.
